SCHOOL FUNDING Proponents of boosting school funding in Colorado cleared one hurdle this week when a state panel approved language for a possible November ballot question — with several different scenarios in play. Chalkbeat

ALMOST GO TIME Five takeaways from Chalkbeat’s legislative preview panel. Chalkbeat

School funding and seeking solutions to teacher shortages in Colorado are expected to be on lawmakers’ minds this session. Aurora Sentinel

UP IN SMOKE? U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ move giving federal prosecutors more leeway to crack down on the recreational marijuana industry may not have immediate implications in Colorado, where a portion of pot tax money goes to schools. Denver Post

Just how much marijuana money supports schools? Not as much as you may think, and only select initiatives benefit. Chalkbeat

Twice as many people are licensed to work in Colorado’s marijuana industry than there are secondary school teachers in the state. 9News